California State University General Counsel Christine Helwick Announces Retirement

(December 6, 2012) – California State University General Counsel Christine Helwick has announced that she will retire next April. Helwick, who has a 35-year career in higher education, has been with the CSU for the past 18 years, serving initially as interim General Counsel and becoming permanent in 1996. She came to the CSU following 17 years at the University of California Office of General Counsel and was also in private practice.

"Chris has a national reputation as an extremely well respected legal counsel in higher education," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. "She has provided steady, thoughtful and knowledgeable legal guidance to the CSU for the past 18 years, and her service to the institution is much appreciated."

As General Counsel, Helwick has overseen the work of a high quality staff of 24 lawyers, including five who serve at their campuses, and provided legal service throughout the CSU on an extremely wide range of complex issues. She has revised Board of Trustee procedures and initiated regular litigation reports to the Board. Under her tenure, CSU's General Counsel Office has reduced the number of litigated cases by 70 percent and earned an overall 87 percent client satisfaction rate in the latest internal survey.

Helwick also served as president of the National Association of College & University Attorneys, and received the organization's Distinguished Service Award in 2007. She was the only attorney on the board of the National Association of College & University Business Officers, and received a Fulbright Award to participate in the International Education Administrators Program in Germany. Helwick was also invited to participate in the Justice & Society seminar held at the Aspen Institute.

Helwick plans to remain to assist in the initial phase of incoming CSU Chancellor Timothy White's transition while a national search is conducted for her replacement.

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About the California State UniversityThe California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 427,000 students and 44,000 faculty and staff. The CSU awards over 95,000 degrees annually and since its creation in 1961 has conferred nearly 2.6 million. The CSU is renowned for the quality of its teaching and for the job-ready graduates it produces. The mission of the CSU is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California. Connect with and learn more about the CSU at CSU Social Media. Show how the CSU matters to you and take action.